By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Helene Rousseaux continued her dominant run in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, powering Farm Fresh to a hard-fought 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22 win over Capital1 on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 6-foot-2 Belgian standout erupted for 36 points built on 33 kills, lifting the Foxies to their third straight win and an unblemished 3-0 record.
Farm Fresh head coach Alessandro Lodi acknowledged the toughness of the match, which stretched a little over two hours, but was proud of how his team held firm under pressure.
“Sometimes, our games feel like giving birth. I feel that a little bit. But we are a team that fights. We are a team that never gives up,” said Lodi.
“We knew it could be a tough game, and we were prepared for it,” he added.
The Foxies’ grit and chemistry proved crucial in countering the explosive plays of Capital1’s top guns, Oleksandra Bytsenko and rookie sensation Bella Belen, who combined for 46 points and accounted for 40 of their squad’s 51 attacks. Bytsenko finished with 26 points, while Belen had 20 points.
“Belen and Bytsenko are two hell of a scorers,” Lodi said. “Sometimes we make decisions that make things harder for ourselves, but we need to grow if we want to compete at a high level.”
Despite committing 26 unforced errors — 10 more than Capital1’s 16 — Farm Fresh compensated with a relentless offense, hammering 69 total attacks.
Rousseaux got ample support from Trisha Tubu and Ces Molina, who chipped in 13 points apiece. Molina tallied 12 kills, while Tubu contributed two of the team’s five blocks.
Capital1, meanwhile, dropped to 1-2 in the standings following the loss.
